Combination-rack for wagons



(No Model.) .2A SheetS-Sheet--1- M. RICE.

COMBINATION RACK FOR WAGONS.

No, AJL'VM Patented June 29,1886.

W22@ .was I In V602 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. RICE.

COMBINATION RACK POR WAGONS. No. 344,751. PatntedJ-une 2 9, 188.6.

r4NiTEn Partnr rerun,

MICHAEL RICE, OF BROOKFIELD, MISSOURI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 344,751, dated dune 29.1886.

Application ilcd March 1G, 1886. Serial No. 195,449. (No model.)

To all' whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, MICHAEL Bron, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brookfield, in the county of Linn and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and usei'ul Improvements in CombinationVagon-Racks, of which the following is a speciication, rel"- erencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a perspective view showing the wagon-box placed between thestandards and on the bolster and adapted as a wood-rack. Fig. 2 is alike View of the hay-rack adapted to be used on the wagon-box. Fig. 3 isa like View showing the hog or sheep coop adapted to be used on thewagon-box; Fig. 4, detail in perspective of the coop; Fig. 5, like viewof end door of coop; Fig. 6, like View of hayrack and box; Fig. 7, endelevation of the hayrack on the box. i

This device belongs to that class called farm-wagons; and the object ofthe invention is to provide, with the smallest detail of parts and atthe least expense, a device in which shall be combined a wood-rack, ahayrack, and a hog or sheep coop, these separate carriages being theones most in use on a farm. Vith this end in view I have produced acombination wagon-rack that is adapted not only for all these abovespecied uses, but to a wide variety of other uses, which need not now bespecially pointed out, as they will readily occur to any farmer.

Having now in a general way stated the nature and scope of my invention,I will proceed to describe it in detail, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

In these, A A denote wagon-axles of any ordinary construction, and B Bthe bolsters over them, suitably provided with the standards b. Upon thebolster and between the standard is placed the wagon box or bottom C,where it fits in place very snugly. This floor is so constructed by endand side sills, c c', as to constitute a sort of tray or box abouttwelve feet long and some four inches deep, and provided with the usualcleats at the bottom and sides, to hold it in place on the bolsters orwagon-body. On each of the side sills are placed staples ci, extendingoutwardly and secured on the inside.. In order to change the device intoa wood-rack, bars D are placed along each side of this box or bottom Cin the staples c2.

NVhen the device is to be used as a hay-rack, the bars D may be removed,and upon the bottom C is placed the rack E. This is made of longitudinaltop strips, e, and bottom strips, e', suitably secured together bycross-pieces c2. The longitudinal top strips are placedat each side, andare laid iiat and on the same horizontal level, While the bottom stripsare placed edgewise between the middle and the end of the cross-pieces,and thus the under longitudinal strips, c', are adapted to rest upon theupper edges of the box C, and the inside top strips, c, will besupported on the tops of the standards b. The rack will thus be held inplace for any ordinary use; but, if desired, any additional means forattaching the rack to the box may be used.

It will be observed that this rack has no box or bottom,properly socalled,the box C answering all those purposes; also, that by theconstruction above described the sills can be made very much lighterthan is usual, as the rack is so fully and adequately supported when inposition on the box C that it need not be made as strong as in caseswhere it has verymuch less support.

In order to change the device into a coop or cage for hauling sheep,hogs, poultry, 85e., the hay-rack will be removed, and a cage, F,parallelogram in shape, made of side and top longitudinal pieces, f,cross-pieces f, and close ends f2, and havingan open bottom, and havingthe ends of its side standards, f3, adapted to fit into the staples c2.When the cage is so fitted in place, it will rest on the holsters B andbetween their standards b, and the box or tray C will constitute itsbottom. Access to the interior of the cage is had through the ends f2,by removing the vertical rods f which pass through the staples f5. Thedevice as thus made combines in the smallest compass and at the leastexpense the conveyances needed by the farmer for doing the chief part ifnot all of the cartage of the farm.

The device is very cheap in structure. It saves the wear and tear on theordinary wagonbox which farmers use so much for many purposes, whichthey would not do if they had some cheap and substantialcombination-rack of this kind, such as is now presented. It is IOOcheap, and can be made by any common workman. It is light, and theseveral parts can be easily changed from one sort of rack to the other,or taken oif in whole or in sections.

When used as a hay-rack, the wagon-wheels are coupled out as far asnecessary, and the back and fore ends of the hay-frame may project overas far as desired. This has the advantage of raising the fore end of theframe up so that it does not interfere with front wheels of the wagon ascommon hay-racks do. I am aware it is not new to make a combined hay andstock rack, and I do not broadly claim any such device.

Having now described iny invention, what I consider new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, i s

' l. In a'farin-Wagon, the combination ofthe axles A and bolsters B,having standards b, with the box C, made as described, and provided withthe staples c, and the hayrack E,

on the upper edges of the box, all as shown and described.

2'. The combination of the cage F, composed of the longitudinal stripsf, cross-pieces f', provided with standardsfa, and having closed endsf2, locked by rods fi, and the axles A, holsters B, having standards b,and the box C, having staples c2, all substantially in the manner andfor the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL RICE.

Witnesses:

W. H. BROUNLEE, GEO. N. ELLIOTT.

